How to Make Material Test Cards on about Laser

One of the first tasks that you need to complete after you get your laser engraver set up is making material test cards. To start off with, you will probably have quite a few cards, but only until you narrow down what type of projects you will be doing and your favorite materials to work with. Material test cards will allow you to get the proper settings for scoring, cutting, and engraving to minimize any potential waste. In this video, you will learn where to find material tests cards, the steps needed to change the files for your needs, and how I like to organize them all!

► TIMESTAMPS:
0:00 to 0:56 intro
1:00 to 1:54 downloading your file
1:56 to 2:22 material thickness
2:26 to 3:13 working with layers & text
3:15 to 4:09 circle tool & cutting
4:58 to 5:47 material library
5:51 to 6:46 preview feature
6:49 to 7:07 setting origin
7:09 to 8:52 laser test card
8:55 to 9:38 organize and final words

► YOUTUBE OPTIMIZATION PLUG-IN
TUBEBUDDY:

► PRODUCTS USED IN THIS VIDEO:
Thickness Calipers-

3” Binder Rings-

MATERIAL TEST CARD-

MATERIAL LIBRARY-

►MY YOUTUBE GEAR & EQUIPMENT ****

🎞 Video editing: Final Cut Pro

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[rickpouley]

That is such a great idea to use the ring to organize your cut cards..
Thanks!!

[steinbierz]

Great video and I like how you arranged the test cards for easy use!

[marcromanoff]

Phenomenally helpful video, thank you!

[nikkac]

Hi There Beautiful, thanks so much for sharing. if I may ask where do you purchase your wood materials that you cut? Thanks so much in advance

[whitneyhughes]

I just want to say thank you for your video. I just got a 51/100 and SO overwhelmed with all the videos/links that are provided. yours was the most helpful!

[ThingsKatieMakes]

Curious why you didn't use the auto focus?

[SarbarMultimedia]

I have always been a great fan of Thunderlaser's great machine design and engineering quality along with their many videos as they attempt to make laser cutting easy for the masses. The matrix test card is a great beginners tool to get you working but it is like training wheels on a bicycle, once you understand how to balance, you remove the trainng aids. If you look at the small details of this test matrix you wil hopefully ask yourself several questions:
1) With the cutting test, once the pieces drop out you lose a lot of valuable observational data. However, look closely at the 25mm/s cut speed and note how "smokey" they are in relation to the 5mm/s cut line. Why? Its the same lens, the same focal distance and the same powers.
2)Compare the width of cut (the kerf) between the 25mm/s cut and the 5mm/s cut. Why is the 5mm/s cut twice as wide when its the same lens, the same focal distance and the same power?
3)With the engraving test, I have always been perpexed at what it shows you. It seems to show that as you increase power the colour gets darker. This is a fallacy because if it were true the colour would get darker ON THE SURFACE. Look closer and you will observe that increasing the power is making the engraving deeper and smokier. Again you should ask yourself why this is happening? How useful would this be on thin card?
4)The width of the burnt laser engraving line changes with speed and power. There is no compensation of line spacing in these tests. Slower speeds and greater power means thicker lines and double burning as lines overlap.
5)Focal distance set to the manufacturer's OPTICAL specification rarely gives optimal cutting or engraving performance because your laser beam has an INTENSITY focus that changes with speed, power, material and position on the table. So.these test patterns need to be done at different focal distances to find optimum performance chracteristics.
If you never observe these issues, ask questions as to why and look for answers, then you will for ever be stuck with your training wheels.

[lorifisher]

You are amazing! I have wanted to do this for my laser and couldn't figure it out until watching your video! Great explanation and I appreciate you!

[jasonwernli]

Super helpful! Thank you for such great information produced in such a professional way! Just got my 35/100 this week, and this will be my first test.

[mohammedalkhalifah]

Hi first of all thank you so much. I have a question my laser name module head 40Watt for diode laser machine. Does the library file work with my laser, Or i have to make a new library ??

[krissyjohnson]

When you got your laser, did u get both heads, camera and rotary and stuff or what did u find that u only needed right away

[tsr]

Did you do the test with the standard head only or did you also do it with the 4” head?